Cloudland Canyon State Park, Ga.

Susan and I flew to Chattanooga and then  drove to this wonderful state park for Matt and Katie's wedding last Saturday (more about that next blog).  Great hiking trails, views, and the cabin was such a great place to stay (central air, would you believe).

When I heard we were staying in a cabin, I dreaded it.  I cannot sleep in a warm room, and 

when we arrived, I walked in, the cabin felt really cool, and I thought, how did they build a cabin that stayed so cool. 

Of course the answer was central air. Fully equipped, fabulous shower, direct assess to the West Rim Trail, and great views down the canyon. This is cabin 14. 

I drove to the Main Overlook trail at 6:30 AM and in almost complete darkness hiked to the 

overlook every one comes to the park to see. The Canyon is 1000' deep.

In the distance, it could have been the view from Pounding Mill Overlook in Pisgah NF, NC.

Far less mountains, of course, but still beautiful. 

A little more light on the scene at 8:00 AM.

All the trails are followed by these fences with their stone supports.   

We heard Pileated Woodpeckers as soon as we arrived, but they can be hard to see. 

This is as close as I got to a decent shot. 7:30 AM.

This is the lookout just below the cabin. 

Rather magnificent wasp of some kind.  The picture is just slightly larger than life-sized. 

Speaking of insects, Susan got up one morning, and thought she saw a monogram on a towel that looked unusual. 

Then it moved!  It was a scorpion!  I had to look them up in Barbara's Nat. Geo. book on resident 

things to be convinced. There are two species of them in North Ga. 

While we were at the Main Overlook, we found Jane and John Royal, cousins from Decatur.

Jane sings in Matt's church choir. 

The Main Overlook at 1:00 PM.  

Barbara and Bill hiked down to the canyon to see two waterfalls, but they had just a trickle of water. 

A Georgia Mockingbird.

Paper wasp nest, football sized.  The last time I saw a nest this size, it turned out to be a

Great Horned Owl.  (I was hoping.)

Thistles mean butterflies.  

It was a wonderful place for a wedding, and I would definitely go again. 

Thank you, Barbara and Bill, for arranging it all for us.